December 31, 2013

SinfulColors has two more collections for Holiday 2013 I want to share with you all, before they are gone for the season. Holiday Tinsel and Sheer Lustre Glitter Topcoats. I have two shades from each collection to share with you in this post. If you're into bar glitter, then you'll want to check out the Holiday Tinsel collection! If you're more of a glitter top coat person, then the Sheer Lustre Glitter Topcoats will be what you go for (and personally, my fav of the two collections). Check out my full review below, including the product info, after the pics!

Cost/Availability: $1.99 each (0.5 fl oz full size). Available exclusively at Walgreens (although I have seen "Walgreens exclusive" collections at Rite-Aid stores).

My Rating: 5 out of 5 Kisses

Holiday Tinsel:
Bring on the bling! These Holiday Tinsel shades from SinfulColors offer a fesitve flourish that's worth celebrating. Each holiday-inspired shade is infused with glitter that gives nails a just-tinseled touch. Choose from six shimmery shades for all-out shine.

Shades:

Silver Rainbows: slivers of silver

Spiked Ice: black dazzle

Pink Icicles: confetti concoction

Cold As Ice: winter white

Tinsel Town: blue sparkle

Gold Tinsel: the gift of gold

This collection of "topper" polishes - although I guess you could wear them on their own - are all about the bar glitter. The bar glitter has also been called shredded, feathers, confetti, and more. If you're a fan of bar glitter, you'll go crazy for every shade in this collection.

I have two shades from the six available. Silver Rainbows is a great silver, holographic bar glitter in a clear base. This is probably my "recommend this" shade from the group because it will work well with just about any shade you put under it because of the silver shade and the way it reflects a rainbow/holographic look.

However, the shade Spiked Ice is where blogs like mine really come in handy. In the bottle Spiked Ice looks like a straight up black cream polish. In fact, it would be extremely hard in store to even know it wasn't a black polish and instead black bar glitter in a clear base. I found that Spiked Ice came out with a lot more bar glitter than Silver Rainbows, and I also feel it had thicker and thinner pieces of bar glitter - where as Silver Rainbows seemed to be the same size bar glitter throughout.

I used two coats of each for the photos, but I would definitely recommend just using one coat of Spiked Ice or you may get a cluttered type look instead of a topper.

I think I may want to try and grab Pink Icicles and Tinsel Town before they are gone for the season, but definitely, for me anyhow, Silver Rainbows was my favorite!

Sheer Lustre Glitter Topcoats:

These glitter shades are designed to be worn over any polish to add extra bling to any look. Choose from six sheer glittery topcoats designed to transform your fav shades to instant glitz and glam.

Shades:

24 Karat: gold gilt

Diamonds Are Forever: silver confetti

Top Me Off: Prismatic Frills

Girls Best Friend: Pink Baubles

Sapphired Up: turquoise glitz

Glittery In Pink: psychedelic blush

These topcoat polishes are really pretty and I kind of want them all! I have two shades from this six-shade collection. 24 Karat is my favorite of the two, but only by a small amount. 24 Karat is a gorgeous crushed gold type of topper polish. Looks almost like micro flakes of gold. Really pretty and easy way to glam up your nails.

The shade Glittery In Pink is another great topper - which is a pink with multi-sized hex glitters. This shade sort of reminds me of the Nails Inc. October 2012 Breast Cancer Awareness polish in Pinkie Pink; it has the same tone of pink and also the multi-sized glitter - although the Nails Inc. polish was more of a straight polish where as the SinfulColors version is definitely just a top coat (I used two coats for the photos of it on the nail). I know there are some other higher-end brands that have a similar shade, and if you don't own those then you can skip the higher price tag and go with the $1.99 SinfulColors version!

Like I said, I like all of these and think I need to go pick up Girls Best Friend, Top Me Off, and Sapphired Up before they are sold out (I may skip out on Diamonds Are Forever). I hope they keep these shades around!

Now let me know what you think...

What do you think of these two holiday polish collections? Have you tried any or are any on your beauty wish list? Discuss in the comments below.

December 30, 2013

Back in August I received a Noya lip balm in my Ipsy bag, and loved it! I recently was sent two more Noya products to try out... their Classic Lip Balm, which is nice (although I prefer the flavor I received in my Ipsy bag), as well as a new product to their line, their Lip Gloss - which I have in the shade Cabernet. Because I loved the lip balm so much, I had high hopes for the lip gloss - but for me, it wasn't a winner, at least not the shade Cabernet. I'll explain why in my full review below. Check out my review on each product, including all the product info, after each set of pics!

Noya Lip BalmFlavor: Classic

Noya Lip Balm Info & Review:

Cost/Availability: $3.99 each (0.15 oz full size). Available on the Noya website and everywhere else Noya is sold. Click here to find a retailer near you.

My Rating: 5 out of 5 Kisses!

All-natural, delectable, kosher lip balms in four craveable flavors. The makers of Noya searched high and low for a lip balm that would meet their perfectionist standards -- on ecreated with only the highest caliber of premium, all-natural ingredients that they could understand, that tasted great, made lips feel wonderful, and followed above-and-beyond quality guidelines. When nothing out there could fit this ideal, they decided to create their own. Their formulas star with ingredients so high quality, they've been certified kosher, and then are manufactured under the very highest standard of excellence to create top grade lip balms for chosen people and just choosey ones.

Each irresistible flavor and formula is made with only four to six all natural ingredients so there's no need to puzzle over unpronounceable additives or suspicious sounding chemicals on the label. What you see is what you get with these four must-have balms that leave lips hydrated, not greasy or slick. Each formula features recognizable ingredients you'd mostly find in the kitchen, like extra virgin olive oil, organic stevia and coconut oil, so you can feel free to reapply as often as your taste buds desire. What you WON'T find in Noya Lip Balms are any preservatives or major allergy-triggering additives.

Noya's Classic Lip Balm has only three natural ingredients - life doesn't get any purer than this! A perfect, effortless balm for a perfect, effortless you. The Classic formula leaves lips soft but won't mess with your taste buds. Great for sensitive skin. All the moisture you want in a balm without any of the drama.

Through a partnership with The National Health Care for the Homeless Council (NHCHC), Noya distributes a free lip balm to homeless and low income people, most without access to basic hygiene necessities, for every photo of Noya Lip Balm posted to social media.

Currently available in four flavors/scents:

Classic: an all-natural balm without scent or flavor

Vanilla: a cupcake packed into every balm

Cherry: a tangy burst of cherry every time you apply

Spearmint: a zesty balm full of fresh, minty goodness

Back in my August Ipsy bag I received my first Noya Lip Balm, which I got in the flavor Vanilla. I loved the scent/flavor and the texture of the lip balm. It was a hit! Now more recently I was able to try their Classic version, which has no scent or flavor - although I do think there is some sort of scent there. Certainly the least offensive, but also the most boring on the lips in terms of flavor and scent. However, the same great formula is there.

I really love these lip balms, and although I do prefer the Vanilla over the Classic, I think any of the four options they currently carry would be great to own!

Noya Lip GlossShade: Cabernet

Noya Lip Gloss Info & Review:

Cost/Availability: $18.00 (0.1 fl oz full size). Will be available on the Noya website.

My Rating: 2 out of 5 Kisses

The Noya Lip Glosses (and lipsticks) aren't yet on the Noya website, so I can't link to them at this time - although I'm sure they will be in the very near future. Because of that, I don't know too much at all about these other than the press release on this product, which is as follows...

A new line of richly pigmented lip glosses with all-natural, kosher-certified formulas. Sometimes, you need a little extra shine for the perfect come-hither pout. Offering a punchy pop of color and a high shine finish, Noya's new line of glosses are great for even the most sensitive lips with its premium ingredients so high quality that each and every one is kosher and so natural you can eat it. In their quest for the best, the founders of Noya have kept their commitment to create all-natural products sans questionable chemicals or parabens.

Each lip gloss is naturally scented with enticing vanilla and delivers a moisturizing punch through its lightweight blend of super-nourishing oils. So kiss sticky or too-slick lips goodbye. Instead, Noya's Lip Gloss finishes range from shimmery and shiny to rich and creamy with essential colors like Pink Frosting, Summertime Peach, Cherry Cordial, Cabernet, and a clear Vanilla, all housed in sleek and modern packaging. These five delicious shades can be used on their own or layered on top of Noya Lipstick for a finishing swipe of sweetness and shine.

Noya Lip Gloss is created from a special blend of powerfully moisturizing ingredients like Coconut Oil, Shea Butter and Jojoba Oil, while cocoa butter and Vitamin E pump up the antioxidants to help fight free radicals. Sunflower Seed Oil is high in healing Vitamins A, C, D and E, and beeswax is used to seal in the moisture to protect soft lips. As with their balms, Noya's products are completely cruelty-free with no animal testing. Made of natural ingredients; no sulfates, parabens, or phthalates.

Currently available in five shades:

Pink Frosting

Summertime Peach

Cherry Cordial

Cabernet

Vanilla (clear)

Because I already love Noya's lip balms, I had really high expectations for their Lip Glosses. Maybe I set the bar too high, or maybe I got a bad tube, but this lip gloss really let me down. Maybe other shades are better, but the shade I have - which is Cabernet - was a total fail for me.

Let's start with the shade description. In the lip gloss tube the shade Cabernet looks absolutely beautiful! It appears to be a deep wine shade with some shimmer. When I pulled the applicator out, the doe-foot was purple and the gloss on the end looked like that same rich wine shade that it appears to be in the tube. When swatched, it still look pretty but certainly not as pigmented or dark as I thought. I re-dipped the wand about 2 or 3 times for that swatch on my hand. It was when I went to swatch it on my lips that tragedy struck and this lip gloss became a fail for me.

In Noya's press release, it specifically states "richly pigmented" and "punchy pop of color", as well as "high shine finish". I can say no, no, and no to all three of those. This gloss appeared richly pigmented but it's rather sheer on the lips and even applies patchy. Not a lot of product comes out on the wand, so you'll need to re-dip your wand at least one or two additional times to get the color onto your lips.

In the lip swatch photos, the first lip shows it with one layer -- the way I'd swatch and apply any other lip gloss. As you can see, it doesn't really look very pigmented. To me, it looks more like a lip stain than a lip gloss in terms of how it appears on my lips. Then I tried to build the color up, which is what you see in the second lip swatch, and you can see the color did get a bit more intense, but certainly still no where near what a richly pigmented lip gloss should be. Mind you, I'm comparing it to other lip glosses that are in fact richly pigmented. I know all-natural glosses can be really hard to get great pigmentation, so that may have something to do with the formula. Then again, it could just be the shade I have, or maybe I got a bad tube.

As far as the "high shine finish" claim, I don't see it. You'll get some glossy shine, but it's not that crazy glossy and certainly could get a similar finish with a nice hydrating lip balm.

Now back to the shade, Cabernet. As I said, I feel like it appears to look more like a lip stain in terms of color and the way it appears on my lips. Even though it does appear to look like a lip stain, it will not stain your lips. The shimmer doesn't really transfer to your lips like it shows in the tube, but certainly is a huge help in making this product appear more shiny. I didn't write down any notes about scent, but they say it's vanilla scented.

Let's also talk about the price point of this lip gloss. They are $18 a piece, which I could easily justify for an all-natural lip gloss if it truly was amazing. This lip gloss, however, is not worth the $18 price tag. At least not the tube I have, nor the shade.

I really, really wanted to love this lip gloss - especially the shade, it looked so vampy and pretty - but unfortunately this lip gloss is one I wouldn't recommend. Now again, maybe - just maybe - other shades are better. So it's very possible the shade Cabernet is just on the more sheer side and possibly Cherry Cordial or Summertime Peach would be more pigmented. Maybe it's just the shimmer versions that fail and the cream versions will soar. I won't rule out ever trying another shade in the future, but it's certainly not on my "must buy this asap" list.

I absolutely LOVE the Noya Lip Balms, so I think that played a huge part in my disappointment in this gloss. At this present time, I don't think I'd recommend the Noya Lip Gloss in the shade Cabernet. However, if you are after an all-natural gloss that gives a sheer, stain-like look to the lips, then you may just go crazy for Cabernet Lip Gloss!

If you try this gloss please do comment below and let me know your thoughts. Would love to know if other shades are better, or if maybe I just received a bad tube.

Now let me know what you think...

What do you think of this lip balm and lip gloss? Have you tried either of these or did you add either of these to your beauty wish list? Discuss in the comments below.

December 29, 2013

The SinfulColors Holiday 2013 Mirror Metallics collection is still available, but not for long. If you're lucky enough to find these, you may be interested in picking up a few shades before the season is over. I know for me, there were two shades that really caught my eye from the four shades I have: Pine Away and Triple Platinum (I'll explain why in the review below). Check out my full review, including all the product info, after the pics!

Cost/Availability: $1.99 each (0.5 fl oz full size). Available exclusively at Walgreens (although I have spotted some SinfulColors "Walgreens exclusive" polishes in the past at Rite-Aid stores).

My Rating: 5 out of 5 Kisses!

New this season: The Mirror Metallics nail polish collection from SinfulColors features 7 sparkling shades guaranteed to steal the spotlight. Infused with sensuous shimmer, these luminous tints will light up your holiday celebration and beyond. The Mirror Metallics collection covers the color scheme from seductive purple to bold gold. Each is designed to bring a sweeping holiday spirit to all who partake in the festivities.

Available in these seven shades:

Pine Away: a glittery x-mas tree green

Red Eye: a sprinkle of crimson by candlelight

Purple Heart: a royal rush of rich purple

Gold Medal: a golden, glimmery goddess

Blue Steel: a brilliant blue gush of gift-wrap

Triple Platinum: a light shade of lilac tinted with tinsel

Simply Silver: a sparkling ornamental shade of silver

I have four of the seven shades, and I can say there are two that really stood out to me as "must-try's". They are Pine Away and Triple Platinum.

Pine Away is one of the most vibrant, true "Christmas" green metallic shades I've seen. It is just really pretty in person and a gorgeous shade of green. That's saying a lot from me, considering green isn't one of my favorite colors. But Pine Away is one I'd recommend from this collection based on how special the green color was, at least in my opinion and certainly for just $1.99!

Triple Platinum is one of those gorgeous complex duo-chrome metallic shades. It's a lilac purple metallic with a golden and even platinum duo-chrome shift. The photos do not do this shade any justice! It's really pretty and a shade I know some higher-end brands have done (or at least close to it) but at $1.99 this is truly the "special one" of the collection, if you ask me. Probably my favorite of the group and the one I'd recommend the most if you were to just get one (but get two, because you'll want Pine Away).

The other two shades I have, Gold Medal and Purple Heart, are pretty but they didn't stand out to me in teh way that Pine Away or Triple Platinum did. Gold Medal is a softer gold metallic shade. It's the gold for someone that doesn't want to be in-your-face with gold nails. It's a champagne gold; that's probably the best description I could give. Purple Heart is the most pigmented out of the four shades I have. It's a rich, deep purple metallic. If you love purple shades you'll likely enjoy Purple Heart (but probably not as much as Triple Platinum).

The other shades look pretty too, but I'm not a big red polish wearer so even though it is/was the holiday season, the shade Red Eye didn't appeal to me much - but certainly would be a pretty metallic red if you're looking for one - especially an affordable one! Blue Steel may be the only other one I should pick up; seems like a pretty shade. And Simply Silver just seemed a bit too much like others I have in my collection, but certainly would be worth checking into if you like metallic silver shades!

Overall, if you're looking for some great metallic shades in more holiday-themed colors, then the SinfulColors Holiday 2013 Mirror Metallics collection is what you've been waiting for. At $1.99 each, I love that you could get all 7 shades for less than the price of two OPI polishes and I find the SinfulColors formula to be great!

Now let me know what you think...

What do you think of this holiday polish collection? Did you pick any of these shades up or do you plan to? Discuss in the comments below.